The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-10-14

0OluS 70 Iuu BWSS' Ecpcdtcu Xous
in tones of the utmost establishment.
"What for?"
"Well." was the reluctant answer,
"there are good many reasons. Tn
tired of being thrashed so much. for
one thing" said Joe. squirming around
rather uneasily. as though he found
sitting on the edge of the piazza I'M
comfortable. land I'm tired of farm
work. too. Besides" he added. boldly,
Il want 10 be a detective-Mr. Bios
som said he'd bet I'd make real smart
one"
"Then. bine-bye. yo.l'u be goin' of. :"
continued Joe. mOurnfully. as Tad
stared at his friend in CONSERVATION too
deep for words, land you're the only
fellow 1 ever cared any thing for. any
way"
mo, indeed. won'tr' eagerly tx
claimed Tad; I'm going to stay here
and grow up-Miss Smiths my own
Aunt Rhody. that l never saw-we
only found it out by accident" And
Tad related all. with which our reader
is familiar. to Joe's open-mouthed
amazement.
"Joe." said Tad. gently. ''what do
you s'pose your mother would do with
out her boy?"
That was touching q tender spot
Joe loved his mother better than any
thing or anybody in the wide world.
and Joe was the very apple of her eye.
The boy drew his sleeve across his face.
while the visions of being detective
were entirely obscured by some trouble
| some tears.
"Come. old fellow" continued Tad.
throwing his arm about his friends
neck, ''you know You don't mean it.
Why. it would just about kill your folks
to have you go off this way; and then
what would 1 do, if you should run
away?"
I-guess -I-won't-go. after
ALL" said Joe, brokenly, and the de-
termination cheered him wonderfully.
In five minutes he was chuckling over
the incidents of Edwards capture, and
the conversation became general.
''But tell you. Joe." Tad remarked.
as he rose to his feet, 'seems to me-
I've been getting considerable NOR n
my share of good things. for one day
five hundred and fifty dollars, and
Aunt Rhoda into the bargain"
sit hasn't been such a bad day all
round. when you come to think of it, "
responded Joe, with his customary
grin. There was Mr.. Anterior got
his sachel. Mis-. Mason her cloak and
things, Cap'n and Mis- Flagg has got
somethin' to talk about. Miss Smith got
Mysteries, Mr.. Blossom got Edwards,
Edwards got caught, and l." said Joe,
as fine summing up. "got a ride-teu
dollars from Mr.. Blossom for upsetting
a buggy-and jolly good lickin' for
drivin' stable-team, when I'd been
told not to-"
And Joe. with lightened heart and
a friendly nod. stole back to the shelter
of the paternal roof. reaching his
chamber in safety; while Tad sought
his own little room. where. with very
full heart, he knelt by his bedside and
thanked the Good Father of all mercies
for the wonderful way in which He had
directed his boyish steps. Then Tad
undressed and went to bed. just as the
tall clock downstairs struck twelve,
and thus ended the day of SO many
wonderful events.
Thus. too. my simple story is virtual.
" ended-with the future Of its charac.
tiers have nothing now to do. At the
present time
Tad Thorne is an active, growing
boy. of good principles and industrious
habits, capital scholar. and source
of constant comfort and companionship
| to
Miss Rhoda Snith.w seems to have
grown ten years younger since tho
events of which 1 have been writing.
She has formally adopted Tad. and is
more proud Of him even than is
Captain Flagg. who looks upon him
self-to use his own words-as "the
insterment. under Providence, which
was the means of interducin' Tad to
his Aunt Rhody." He has, at the
earnest request of his wife and adopted
daughter. abandoned his perilous call.
ing. and turned over the command OF
the coaster to Ephraim-uo~ Cap'n
| Small.
Polly FiagS is growing up into one
| of the incest girls l ever knew. That
she has never been able to discover any
thing further as to her pareatage
gives her no uneasiness-in fact. she
gives i. little thought, being a healthy,
sensible young miss, with no romantic
fancies as to mysterious birthriglrtS"
and the ike. She is trying to live SO
| that in the fullness of Gods time
she shall meet her own angel mother,
who so long ago was laid under the
daisies which nod above the green
mounds in BiNport church-yard. Mean
while, her love for good Mrs. Fiagg
ard the Captain grows even stronger
as the days 60 on: while they, on their
part. know no difference between Polly
and q child of their own flesh and
blood. And that Polly and Tad are the
best of friends goes without saying.
while they seem to exercise sort of
joint proprieto-ship in Bounce, who
grows bigger, more afectionate, know
ing and gruf-voiced every week,
while
Joe Whitney is really getting to be
more tracta5le and less miscliievous:
,pd S;,na tho 1o,co,, GiSoo,-araJ So,,a-